Campfire Beer Pancakes

When you’re roughing it in the great outdoors, a hearty breakfast is in order. We turn to the classics: pancakes, bacon, and eggs, cooked in a cast iron skillet over an open fire. In an effort to reuse ingredients from meal to meal (and to maximize taste), we’ve added some of the pine nuts and currants from our Campfire Couscous, the side dish from the preceding night’s dinner. It’s a chance to use up leftover beer too!

What to buy: Be sure to pick up a light lager (such as Corona, Budweiser, or Heineken), as it will make airy pancakes without adding the bitterness or imposing flavor of a more substantial beer.

Instructions

1Combine baking mix, nuts, and currants in a large bowl and mix until evenly combined. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the beer, eggs, and vegetable oil. Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just moistened. (Don’t overmix or the pancakes will be tough. The batter should be lumpy.)

2Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat on a camping stove or over a campfire fitted with a grilling grate. Test to see if the pan is hot enough by sprinkling a couple of drops of cold water in it: If the water bounces and sputters, the pan is ready to use; if it evaporates instantly, the pan is too hot.

3Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into the pan for each pancake. (You should be able to fit 3 to 4 pancakes at a time.) Cook until pancakes rise slightly and form lots of bubbles on top, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until bottoms are golden brown, about another minute.